Items Tagged: Events AND History

Philadelphia's Classic Fourth Of July Celebration Turns 25

Welcome America turns 25 this year, and Philadelphia is planning a six-day Independence Day festival to celebrate. As always, a birthday party of this magnitude can take place only in the United States’ birthplace—Philly. From June 29 through July 4, 2017, Wawa Welcome America! includes four spectacular fireworks shows, a bigger Historic District Block Party, a delicious Wawa Hoagie Day and a huge July 4th concert—this time, starring Mary J. Blige. Also on the docket: Free Museum Days, outdoor movies—including Rocky on the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps—and new alfresco happy hours.

VISIT PHILADELPHIA's Historic District Campaign Enters Year Two

The recent opening of the Museum of the American Revolution, art-centric and community-minded programming and an integrated marketing campaign are the highlights of year two of VISIT PHILADELPHIA’s efforts to promote Philadelphia’s Historic District, a vibrant neighborhood that attracts approximately four million visitors annually.

Philadelphia’s Historic District—the original city in the 17th and 18th century—extends from the Delaware River to 7th Street and from Vine to Lombard Streets. Home to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell new and long-established museums, historic houses and interactive storytelling benches, the District is also where America’s founding generation ate, drank,

Philadelphia's Historic District Gears Up For A Revolutionary Summer

The just-opened Museum of the American Revolution brings the United States’ war for independence into today’s consciousness, using rarely seen relics, the original George Washington Headquarters Tent, dozens of arms, uniforms, artifacts, documents and historical vignettes of ordinary Americans to tell the extraordinary story of the nation’s founding. But the new museum isn’t the only reason to visit Philadelphia’s Historic District this summer. The Historic District consists of the Old City, Society Hill and Delaware River Waterfront neighborhoods, extending from the Delaware River to 7th Street and Vine Street to Lombard Street.

The Greater Philadelphia Region: Fast Facts

Population:

There are 2.5 million people residing in the five-county region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties) and more than 1.5 million in Philadelphia, making it the second-largest city on the East Coast and the sixth-largest city in the country.

Location:

Philadelphia is a two-hour drive from New York City, two-and-a-half hours from Washington, DC and 45 minutes from Atlantic City, with convenient access to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-76, I-95 and the New Jersey Turnpike. One-quarter of the U.S. population lives within a five-hour drive of Center City Philadelphia.

New–Lots New–This Summer In Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s summer is jam-packed with things to do, thanks to new attractions, limited-time displays, major exhibitions and the seasonal happenings that locals and visitors cherish. Highlights: just-opened Museum of the American Revolution and the nation’s most playful LEGOLAND® Discovery Center, an indoor snow playground called Winter: Exclusively at Philadelphia Zoo, a high-tech, $19 million renovation of Longwood Gardens’ main fountains and a concert and festival curated and headlined by Philly’s own Hall & Oates.

Philadelphia's Vast Collection Of Historical Artifacts Wins Over Political Junkies

Before and during the festive nominating sessions, motivating speeches and nighttime celebrations, delegates, party operatives, campaign staffers and volunteers for the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia, July 25-28, can discover items that document the history of politics and government in this country. As the birthplace of the nation and the country’s first and only World Heritage City, Philadelphia is home to institutions that work political artifacts into their missions and others that are planning special exhibitions especially for this occasion.

Campaign Memorabilia:

Inspired by FanFest, PoliticalFest brings political entertainment to the people—right in the birthplace of American democracy.

16 Things To Know: African-American Philadelphia

The 2010 U.S. Census reported 661,839—that’s 43.37%—of Philadelphians are African-American, the city’s second largest ethnic demographic. More recent estimates show this population has increased by approximately 1% in the past six years.

The largest concentration—82%—of African-American Philadelphians live in North Philadelphia west of Germantown Avenue, Point Breeze in South Philadelphia, West Philadelphia and in parts of Southwest Philadelphia.

Important African-American business corridors include 52nd Street between Walnut and Arch Streets and Baltimore Avenue between 40th and 52nd Streets, both in West Philadelphia; and Stenton Avenue between Broad Street and Walnut Lane and Ogontz

A Tale Of Two Host Cities: Philadelphia And Cleveland Put On 2016 Political Conventions

While presidential candidates are going head-to-head in heated discourse, the great American cities of Philadelphia and Cleveland are pushing political banter aside to ready themselves for the national spotlight as they host the Democratic National Convention (July 25-28) and Republican National Convention (July 18-21), respectively. Cleveland’s last political convention was the 1936 RNC; that same year, Philadelphia welcomed the DNC. The cities will be part of history again in 2016.

Both destinations have a loyal fan base; residents love their respective city’s arts and culture, history, music and food, and visitors clamor over much of the same. Here’s a look

Fact Sheet: The Philadelphia Region

Population:There are 4.0 million people residing in the five-county region (7.8 million in the Philadelphia Designated Market Area) and 1.6 million in Philadelphia, making it the second-largest city on the East Coast and the fifth-largest in the country. Center City ranks second in downtown populations in the U.S., behind New York City’s Manhattan.

Location:Philadelphia is a two-hour drive from New York City, two-and-a-half hours from Washington, DC and 45 minutes from Atlantic City, with convenient access to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-76, I-95 and the New Jersey Turnpike. 25% of the United States population lives within 350

The 2016 Democratic National Convention will take place in Philadelphia, the birthplace of America and the country’s first World Heritage City, July 25-28, 2016. The city has enough history, art, culture, food, vibrant neighborhoods, parks and political landmarks to fill web, newspaper and magazine pages from now until the convention.

Here are 10 things people might not know about the host city, plus key resources for convention and destination coverage.

10 Philly Facts You (Probably) Don’t Know:

One-quarter of the U.S. population lives within a five-hour drive of Philadelphia.

The fast-growing Indego bike-share program launched in spring 2015 and

Now Playing In Philadelphia: Big Events & Openings

With 2015 comes plenty of reasons for visitors to plan a trip to Philadelphia. In fact, The New York Times ranked Philly at the #3 spot in its influential article of the “52 Places to Go in 2015.”

So what’s on the calendar for the rest of the year? The Tall Ships festival, showing off a dozen historic ships on the Delaware River waterfront; Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel and the New Painting, featuring 80 works by a who’s-who of painters at the Philadelphia Museum of Art; and Down the Rabbit Hole: Celebrating 150 Years of Alice in Wonderland at

World Meeting Of Families 2015 Philadelphia: What's The Story?

As families around the globe prepare for their pilgrimage of faith to the eighth World Meeting of Families (WMOF), taking place in Philadelphia September 22-25, 2015, the city is preparing to welcome them to this landmark event, which culminates on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with the Festival of Families on September 26 and a public mass celebrated by Pope Francis on September 27. Visitors in town for the week-long event will find a city with a rich history of religious freedom and a strong Catholic heritage, a wide range of affordable attractions for all ages and services and resources that

Philly Celebrates Black History Month

Since Philadelphia’s earliest days, African-American culture has played an influential role in shaping the city’s personality. This February, Philadelphia celebrates that heritage and Black History Month with special events, exhibitions, film screenings and other activities. Visitors can join members of the esteemed Tiberino family of artists on guided tours of The Unflinching Eye: Works of the Tiberino Family Circle at The African American Museum in Philadelphia, catch the Tony Award®-winning classic Porgy and Bess at the Academy of Music or explore the path to Civil Rights at the National Constitution Center.

World's Only Benjamin Franklin Museum To Open In Philadelphia On August 24

When the new Benjamin Franklin Museum opens in Philadelphia on Saturday, August 24, visitors can delve into all aspects of Franklin’s life, from his role as statesman and diplomat to his life as a private citizen, inventor, philosopher and more. Built next to the site where Franklin actually lived in the mid 1700s, the underground museum was originally built for the 1976 Bicentennial celebration. Now, after undergoing a major transformation, the revitalized site will feature personal artifacts, computer animations and interactive displays. It is the only museum in the world dedicated to the life, times and legacy of this extraordinary

For Guidebooks: 20 New & Notable Philly Museums & Attractions

If you haven’t updated your Philadelphia guidebook lately, you might be missing some major new museums and attractions. Over the past few years, the region welcomed some destination-defining—and trip-defining—attractions, including the Barnes Foundation, the renewed Rodin Museum, the National Museum of American Jewish History and The President’s House, as well as new fashionable hotels and fun festivals.

Between all their touring, visitors fuel up in a city that’s become a top dining destination, evidenced by recent multiple-page features in Travel + Leisure and Bon Appétit. The Italian Market, Reading Terminal Market, BYOB spots, red-gravy restaurants, chef-centric eateries, ethnic outposts, food

Big Exhibits Make Philly A Must This Fall

Greater Philadelphia pairs its annual fall events and Halloween haunts with big-name and curiously quirky exhibits—ranging from Rembrandt and Wyeth art showings to events centered around creepy crawlers, mummies and Jim Henson Company™ puppets. Plus a new month-long exhibit takes landlubbers to the sea. Here’s a look at what’s making Philadelphia and The Countryside® an exhibit town this fall:

Autumn Openings:

To mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, which included illustrations by Chester County artist N.C. Wyeth, the Brandywine River Museum will display all 16 paintings—the first time they will be

Backgrounder: Gay-friendly Philly

Philadelphia, which recently marked the 40th anniversary of its vibrant Gayborhood, continues to come out as one of the nation’s top travel destinations for gay and lesbian visitors. As reflected in its award-winning Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay® campaign, the region has become the place to learn about America’s past by day and to experience a little of the party life by night. Philadelphia is now tied for the #9 spot on the list of most-visited gay and lesbian destinations on Community Marketing, Inc.’s annual LGBT Tourism Study, and it’s tied for #2 among

Around The World In Philadelphia

Travelers who want an international getaway without the international price tag can set their sights on Philadelphia, where a taste of all the world's cultures converge. From city boulevards that recall the elegance of the Champs-Élysées to lively Italian marketplaces to serene Japanese gardens that mimic Kyoto, Philadelphia and The Countryside® offers visitors a chance to explore every corner of the globe—no passport required. Here are some of the sites, sounds, smells and stops not to miss:

Paging All Science And Medical Mavens: Get To Philadelphia Stat For Body Worlds And Beyond

When Gunther von Hagens’ Body Worlds 2 & The Brain makes its debut at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute on October 17, it will be one of many points of interest for visitors eager to explore the area’s vast array of scientific treasures. The second-largest medical research and education center in the U.S., the Philadelphia region is home to many medical, anatomical and scientific sites—from the nation’s first hospital and the well-heeled home of the “Father of American Surgery” to museums devoted to medical marvels and the history of pharmacy. Those who’d like to spend a night or two exploring the region’s

More Than 35 Experiences Found Only In Philly

It’s hard to say whether kids or adults have more fun at the fudge-and-candy parties at Betty’s Speakeasy. Large or intimate groups can schedule time to cut fudge, make candy, decorate cookies and gobble them up at the end of the party. Bakery owner Liz Begosh uses only organic, local and fair-trade ingredients in her sweet confections. For a slightly less messy culinary adventure, Liz also schedules private, instructional, prix-fixe dinners that explore the landscape of artisanal eating for $40 per person. 2241 Grays Ferry Avenue, (215) 735-9060, bettysfudge.com